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What can actually cause infertility?? And is this the case here do you think or more cries for help?

6 replies

fartmeistergeneral · 20/02/2009 14:43

My dad has told me that my sister (45) has found out she can't have children after having had blood in her urine. She's just got married and although I don't know if they were trying for children, she's very upset and tearful obviously.

In my ignorance, I only know that being unable to have children is caused by infertility of some kind (someone at my work can't have children because of only having one ovary, male fertility problems etc). What would cause this bleeding and why would it affect her ability to have children? Also, apparantly she hasn't been referred to a hospital gyny dept., only seen her GP?? Is this likely with something so serious?

The reason I guess I'm asking so many questions is that my sister is a hypochondriac, and I mean that in the true sense of the word, I'm not being flippant or mocking. For 30 years she has had 'illness' after 'illness' so much so that that is in part why we are not close, just have a 'civil' relationship with each other. The frustration I've felt over the years has been unbelievable. She has had every test going, including full body and brain scans and her GP (so she tells me) is getting to the end of his tether. She is never actually ill and appears to be incredibly healthy, but every other time I speak to her there is something else 'wrong'. Her work docked her pay last year because of the amount of time she has had off. When I was younger I wondered if she actually had munchausens (excuse spelling if wrong).

This may seem harsh, and I have texted her to say so sorry to hear of troubles, understand if she may not want to talk to me about it, but am here for her. It's just years of experience have taught me to be hesitant - that she's not actually going blind, that she's not got epilepsy, that she's not even got anal fissures (!). The list could go on and on.....

OP posts:
georgimama · 20/02/2009 14:53

Blood in the urine could mean anything, which could be a condition which has infertility as a side effect. What I mean is that it may not be the blood in the urine which is causing the infertility, but that the blood and the infertility are both effects/symptoms of something.

There are lots of possible causes of infertility (or compromised feritility - very few women are completely "barren" as it were) - PCOS, endometriosis, premature menopause, anorexia, being overweight ..... or the infertility can be the side effect of medical treatment or another illness.

At 45 she may even be menopausal.

You don't sound very sympathetic tbh.

Nabster · 20/02/2009 14:55

I think there are numerous signs of infertility - has she been trying to get pregnant at all? And if it is a cry for help it sounds like she has been crying a long time.

fartmeistergeneral · 20/02/2009 15:22

If this is the case, I'm devastated for her. I have 3 children, and cannot imagine life without them.

I just wanted to explain the background. I have had numerous chats with her over the years, making suggestions to help her when she feels down. I have tried. I am not unsympathetic, but 30 years is a long time to hear about imagined illnesses, and have your advice asked for and repeatedly unheeded.

Obviously her background suggests unhappiness, but I can only try and try - at the end of the day she needs to make a forward movement herself to change things.

I just wanted to find out a bit more about infertility and what could be causing the bleeding.

Although we are not close, she's my sister and I'll be there for her.

OP posts:
Nabster · 20/02/2009 15:45

Sometimes, some people just can not help themselves.

Lynsy · 20/02/2009 16:57

Hi

Just wanted to let you know that I have blood in my urine - it is not visable in my wee, but shows up when a dipstick test is done, this in itself has caused no problems for us as we already have one gorgeous dd. The blood could be a sign of an underlying problem that could be effecting there fertility but don't think that alone would cause any problems with getting pregnant. To be honest blood in the urine is normally one of the signs of a urine infection, and if your sister doesn't have a uti, then surely the GP would refer her for further tests.(I was refered for this alone) There are many reason for infertiity, especially in women, but there are many tests that can be done to show what and where the problem lies.I have endometriosis which has affected our fertility (have been trying for number 2 since 2007) so I know a far bit about fertility and infertility

hth a little bit and that your sister gets the help she needs

nightcat · 20/02/2009 19:16

I had unexplained blood in urine for many years, which has resolved to my complete amazement when we went gluten free with my ds a few years ago (still on the diet and still OK now).

There is a strong but little known link with celiac and/or gluten intolerance (not allergy) and fertility, I think if you research it, you will find answers to many symptoms you mention.

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